Perth’s newest smart freeway will be formally switched on, providing commuters with faster and safer journey on Sunday, December 22.
- Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter to receive the latest news and classifieds from Australia’s transport industry.
- Don’t miss a second and subscribe to our monthly Deals on Wheels magazine.
- Sell your truck with Australia’s #1 truck classifieds
The new Smart Freeway Mitchell Southbound is made up of more than 1,400 pieces of technology, including road sensors, on-ramp signals, CCTV cameras, incident detection sensors, digital signs and overhead gantries.
The new technology will enhance traffic flow and safety by collecting and analysing large amounts of data to respond to traffic conditions in real time.
This includes using overhead gantries to lower speed limits and provide warnings about incidents ahead, and utilising traffic signals at on-ramps to manage the flow of traffic onto the freeway during busy periods.
Transport minister Rita Saffioti says harnessing traffic data and responding to conditions will improve people’s journeys on the freeway.
“Depending on where they’re travelling from, drivers can expect to save up to seven minutes during morning peak hour, which ultimately means a safer journey and less time spent in gridlock,” she says.
“The Smart Freeway is another example of our government investing in projects that drive the economy, create jobs and improve the lives of Western Australians.”
The smart freeway systems are part of a broader transformation of Mitchell Freeway, which began in July 2023 with the opening of the Mitchell Freeway extension to Alkimos, and a third lane between Hodges Drive and Hepburn Avenue opened in May this year.
The Smart Freeway Mitchell Southbound will feature:
- New traffic signals on all 16 on-ramps, helping filter traffic onto the freeway and make merging smoother and easier;
- 23 overhead gantries with lane-use and variable-speed signs to let drivers know what speed to travel, what lanes to use and if there’s an incident or accident ahead; and
- Digital Message Signs to inform motorists of traffic conditions in real time for safer and more reliable journeys.
The Mitchell Freeway Southbound is Perth’s second Smart Freeway, the first one began operating on Kwinana Freeway northbound in August 2020.
This project is jointly funded by the Australian and Western Australian governments.
Read more:
- 1976 Peterbilt shares Hollywood screen with Mark Wahlberg
- Fixing up a 1971 International following a tragic mining accident
- Accolades swarm Masondale’s Kenworths at truck show
- Hundreds of trucks showcase for Lights on the Hill
- Complete Tracking’s newest fatigue and dash cam solution
Check out the Deals on Wheels Facebook here.